The progressive city fathers (and mothers, I guess, with Mayor Diana Preston) have reversed a two-year-old ban on “interactive” entertainment in its eating establishments. The reason: it was killing business.

In 2007, the enlightened ones fought the Prince of Darkness by banning many of the Devil’s tools of the trade—karaoke, trivia, darts and the like—where alcohol is sold. I have seen it myself… the debauchery that occurs where a Britney Spears hit is badly mangled; or the sexual perversion that runs rampant wherever diners compete over baseball stats and nations’ capitals.

The fact that Gwinnett residents vocalize and trivialize across the county while downing copious quantities of wings and beer—all without devolving into crimes against nature—is proof that the activities themselves are not the problem.

But then, most of us knew that already.

Lilburn officials had tightened up its alcohol ordinance in 2007 amid controversy over Sports Fan Bar and Grill. The City Council had argued that crime follows bars, and they believed Sports Fan was a bar masquerading as a restaurant.

So leaders clamped down on common bar activities such as karaoke. The action stirred debate, with some accusing Lilburn of closing the tap on good times. Sports Fan shut down last year.

AJC: Lilburn opens doors to karaoke, dark prince Lucifer

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